PLASTIC CANALS WONT HELP AGRICULTURE
By Dave Harmiiau
In 19 7 0 the Soil Conservation Society prepared a statement of its position in a study called "A National Policy for Land Use." A paragraph quoted from that statement says "Unnecessary destruction and waste of our land and natural resources and degradation of the environment is continuing, due in a large part to the lack of an effective national land use policy."
The Society feels therej is a great need for more coordination of federal, state, and local government agencies
more research, more planning, and much more'wisdomin order to prevent crisis on top of crisis for our children and their children.
The name of the game is soil-saving techniques. Without good top soils, an agricultural community will cease to exist.
In the last seven or eight years huge farm machinery payments and rising farm and living costs have forced us to the point where every bit of land must be pushed to maximum (turn to PROJECTS on page 14)
THE NEWSPAPER OF THE SALISH, PEND d ORIELLES AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION
15 C
HA R - KÖOSTA
Volume 4 Number 14
FULL MOON OF AUTUMN (November 15, 1974)
JURISDICTIONAL QUESTION OVER GAMBLING - LIQUOR ARRESTS
Poison: Arraignments for four Tribal Members charged with several state gambling and liquor offenses has been continued in Poison District Court until Dec. 4 th.
The "Poison Four" were arrested last month in two Lake County Sheriffs Department raids on the Koot-Nay Re sort...a new dining and gaming facility located just east of Poison on Highway 9 3. Three were charged with violations of the state gambling code and a fourth is alleged to have illegally sold liquor and beer .All four charges involve state laws.
E.W.Morigeau, Poison, one of the arrested, does not feel the state has the authority to assert jurisdiction over the bar and gambling facility.Mor-igeau,a Tribal Councilman,appealed to the council Oct. 30 for legal aid in defending the Poison Four on the grounds that the tribe has asserted jurisdiction over reservation gambling and liquor control.
Morigeau, the manager of the Koot-Nay Resort and President of the BJ Company which leaser the facility from the tribe, noted that liquor and gambling were not specifically mentioned in the con -
current jurisdiction agreement between the tribes and the state of Montana (Resolution 40 A and state house bill 55.) He further pointed out that the tribe has a liquor control ordinance (3 4 A) which calls for a tribal license to sell beer and liquor on the reservation. He also reminded the council that they had issued him a permit to sell beer and operate a 'bottle club", where customers bring their own bottles and are served drinks by the house. Morigeau said that the resort had complied with both requirements within the tribal permit.
Morigeau also presented a council resolution signed on March 15 of this year which approved the"general concept" of establishing a gambling enterprise on the BJ company lease.The resolution stipulated that approval was contingent .of existing federal law. Morigeau presented a memo from an official of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service stating that: "There is no Federal gambling tax on poker,black jack or 21, or dice".
Morigeau,and several tribal members attending that meeting, argued that the council
had steered a course toward tribal liquor and gambling jurisdiction and were committed to defend those who were arrested complying with tribal council resolutions. Morigeau also insisted that the state had "exceeded" its concurrent jurisdiction authority in making the arrests and urged that the (see POLSON
council"consider withdrawing" from the ten-year old joint legal agreement.
Morigeaus request for legal assistance was tabled pending a review of the situation by tribal attornies. A special meeting was scheduled forNov. 5 ..two days before the Poison Four were to appear for ar-FOUR on page two)
INDIANS MAY AGAIN FGET FOOD STAMPS
Poison: Food stamps are once again available to Indians on the Flathead reservation from Lake County Welfare Office in Poison.Thus according to county welfare Director Bonny Meuller.
The latest change in policy for Indians in the state-operated food stamp program came in a telegram from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the State Director of Social and Rehabilitation Services Jack Carlson. The telegram is being interpreted by Carlson and Ms. Meuller to mean Indians of the Flathead reservation may again choose between stamps and tribally operated commodities on a
month to month basis. Food stamps are coupons which needy families purchase at a discount and redeem at grocery stores for food of their choice. Commodities are sur plus foods packaged by the USDA and distributed to families who qualify.
Carlson told Char-Koosta that his department is authorizing county welfare offices to "go ahead and issue stamps to Indian families" until the somewhat obscure telegram from USDA is clarified. Ms.Meuller said her office would begin immediately certifying Indian
FOOD STAMPS on page three